Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making
USDOT recently published an updated version of their technical assistance resource "Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making". This guide provides a shared definition of meaningful public involvement and promising practices to help DOT funding recipients across all modes of transportation address barriers to inclusion in decision-making.
Public involvement from the beginning and throughout a project’s lifecycle has the potential to help projects come to life faster and to better meet the needs of the community.
In response to stakeholder feedback/questions, this updated guide now includes a new appendix on "Using Federal Funds for Meaningful Public Involvement Activities", which includes illustrative examples like:
- Hiring Community-Based Organizations
- Providing Food at Public Meetings
- Providing Childcare at Public Meetings
- Providing Financial Incentives or Reimbursements for Participation
Access the updated guide here
Public Involvement?
USDOT defines meaningful public involvement as a process that proactively seeks full representation from the community, considers public comments, and incorporates that feedback into a project, program, or plan.
The impact of community contribution encourages early and continuous public involvement, brings diverse viewpoints into the transportation decision-making process, and enables agencies to make better-informed decisions through collaborative efforts.
